MacIntyre Hires Drake To Complete CU Football Staff
January 24, 2018 | Football
Set to coach the defensive line
BOULDER — Kwahn Drake, the defensive line coach last season at Eastern Illinois University, has been named to the similar position at the University of Colorado, head coach Mike MacIntyre announced Wednesday.
Considered a rising star in the profession, EIU head coach Kim Dameron had promoted Drake, 32, to co-defensive coordinator following the 2017 season. Last fall, the Panthers finished 6-5, with a 5-3 record in Ohio Valley Conference play for third place and including a win over a ranked Tennessee State team.
"Kwahn is dynamic young coach that came highly recommended by many different individuals from both the NFL and college," MacIntyre said. "I'm really excited about Kwahn's ability to teach and coach, and the energy he is going to bring to the table for us. I know our defensive linemen are going to be really excited about having Kwahn coach them, and I too am excited about having Kwahn join our staff."
"I'm totally excited to be a Colorado Buffalo," Drake said, noting that this is the farthest west he has ever been in the United States as most of his life has been spent in the Central Time Zone. "I want to thank Coach MacIntyre and Coach D.J. Eliot (CU defensive coordinator) for this opportunity to be a part of this great organization and a chance to bring what I feel is my expertise to the program. I also enjoyed interviewing with and want to thank Rick George (athletic) director and Lance Carl (associate AD who supervises football)."
At EIU, under Drake's tutelage, David Johnson earned second-team All-OVC honors for a second consecutive season. Under Drake's tutelage, he finished his senior season with 51 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss which included three-and-a-half quarterback sacks. He ranked 11th in the OVC in sacks and 12th in tackles for a loss.
Prior to his one-year stint at EIU, Drake spent the 2016 season as an offensive analyst for the University of Memphis under head coach Mike Norvell. The Tigers finished 8-5 and earned an invitation to the Boca Raton Bowl. The offense was the second most-prolific in program history, amassing 6,028 yards of offense and scoring 57 touchdowns and 505 points, all the second-highest numbers in school annals. The Tigers' 3,957 passing yards and 303 completions both were the third-most for a season in school history, with 34 touchdown passes a school best.
He got his start in coaching in 2008 as a student assistant at his alma mater, Nicholls State, where he assisted with the defensive line and scouting reports. In 2009, he served as the defensive line and special teams coach for St. James (La.) High school, where it finished as the District 8-3A co-champions.
He then moved on New Orleans' St. Augustine High School as defensive line coach for two years (2011-12). The Purple Knights claimed the District 10-4A championship in 2011 and finished as District 10-5A co-Champions in 2012. He was also the recruiting coordinator and academic advisor, and saw 25 of his players receiving football scholarships at NCAA Division I colleges during his time at St. Augustine.
His first taste in the collegiate coaching ranks came as graduate assistant at Tulane in 2012; he was named the full-time defensive line coach for the 2014-15 seasons, the latter of which saw his players help Tulane rank 12th in the FBS in tackles for a loss per game. In 2012, Drake assisted the Green Wave defensive unit that ranked 22nd in the nation in total defense (352.1), 17th against the rush (123.7) and 18th in scoring (21.4).
He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in computer information systems from Nicholls State in 2009. He earned his master's degree in Liberal Arts from Tulane in 2013.
A New Orleans native, he graduated from Destrehan (La.) High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track.
The hiring of Drake completes MacIntyre's staff for the 2018 season, as he recently added two other new assistants, Kurt Roper (quarterbacks) and Ashley Ambrose (cornerbacks).
Considered a rising star in the profession, EIU head coach Kim Dameron had promoted Drake, 32, to co-defensive coordinator following the 2017 season. Last fall, the Panthers finished 6-5, with a 5-3 record in Ohio Valley Conference play for third place and including a win over a ranked Tennessee State team.
"Kwahn is dynamic young coach that came highly recommended by many different individuals from both the NFL and college," MacIntyre said. "I'm really excited about Kwahn's ability to teach and coach, and the energy he is going to bring to the table for us. I know our defensive linemen are going to be really excited about having Kwahn coach them, and I too am excited about having Kwahn join our staff."
"I'm totally excited to be a Colorado Buffalo," Drake said, noting that this is the farthest west he has ever been in the United States as most of his life has been spent in the Central Time Zone. "I want to thank Coach MacIntyre and Coach D.J. Eliot (CU defensive coordinator) for this opportunity to be a part of this great organization and a chance to bring what I feel is my expertise to the program. I also enjoyed interviewing with and want to thank Rick George (athletic) director and Lance Carl (associate AD who supervises football)."
At EIU, under Drake's tutelage, David Johnson earned second-team All-OVC honors for a second consecutive season. Under Drake's tutelage, he finished his senior season with 51 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss which included three-and-a-half quarterback sacks. He ranked 11th in the OVC in sacks and 12th in tackles for a loss.
Prior to his one-year stint at EIU, Drake spent the 2016 season as an offensive analyst for the University of Memphis under head coach Mike Norvell. The Tigers finished 8-5 and earned an invitation to the Boca Raton Bowl. The offense was the second most-prolific in program history, amassing 6,028 yards of offense and scoring 57 touchdowns and 505 points, all the second-highest numbers in school annals. The Tigers' 3,957 passing yards and 303 completions both were the third-most for a season in school history, with 34 touchdown passes a school best.
He got his start in coaching in 2008 as a student assistant at his alma mater, Nicholls State, where he assisted with the defensive line and scouting reports. In 2009, he served as the defensive line and special teams coach for St. James (La.) High school, where it finished as the District 8-3A co-champions.
He then moved on New Orleans' St. Augustine High School as defensive line coach for two years (2011-12). The Purple Knights claimed the District 10-4A championship in 2011 and finished as District 10-5A co-Champions in 2012. He was also the recruiting coordinator and academic advisor, and saw 25 of his players receiving football scholarships at NCAA Division I colleges during his time at St. Augustine.
His first taste in the collegiate coaching ranks came as graduate assistant at Tulane in 2012; he was named the full-time defensive line coach for the 2014-15 seasons, the latter of which saw his players help Tulane rank 12th in the FBS in tackles for a loss per game. In 2012, Drake assisted the Green Wave defensive unit that ranked 22nd in the nation in total defense (352.1), 17th against the rush (123.7) and 18th in scoring (21.4).
He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in computer information systems from Nicholls State in 2009. He earned his master's degree in Liberal Arts from Tulane in 2013.
A New Orleans native, he graduated from Destrehan (La.) High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track.
The hiring of Drake completes MacIntyre's staff for the 2018 season, as he recently added two other new assistants, Kurt Roper (quarterbacks) and Ashley Ambrose (cornerbacks).
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